Judge plans last-minute hearing before town vote to change name to Rocky Top after famed song

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A federal judge will hear a last-minute request to stop the East Tennessee town of Lake City from changing its name to Rocky Top.

The town council is scheduled to vote on the name change Thursday evening.

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But on Wednesday, the publisher of the bluegrass song "Rocky Top" filed a request to put the vote on hold, at least temporarily. A hearing on the request is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, just before the vote.

House of Bryant Publications is suing Lake City and a group of developers who plan to build a massive tourist complex in the town of 1,800 once Lake City becomes Rocky Top. The lawsuit says the town and developers are trying to illegally cash in on the popularity of the Rocky Top brand.